![Game, set, and match. Corbin Atchley, sophomore, high fives Sanam Sidhu, freshman, after a rally with other club members. “I just joined [the club],” Sidhu said. “[I heard about it] on Instagram, they always post about it, I’ve been wanting to come. My parents used to play [net sports] too and they taught us, and then I learned from my brother.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MG_7715-2-1200x800.jpg)
![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![The teams prepare to start another play with just a few minutes left in the first half. The Lions were in the lead at halftime with a score of 27-0. At half time, the team went back to the locker rooms. “[We ate] orange slices,” Malos said. “[Then] our team came out and got the win.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_2385-1200x800.jpg)
After last year’s successful first album “Up All Night” debuted at number one on the iTunes charts, One Direction is continuing to cement its status as the “it” boy band for this generation with its new album, “Take Me Home”. One Direction, comprised of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik, fit nicely into the cookie-cutter gap left behind after groups like *N‘SYNC and the Backstreet Boys disbanded in the early 2000s. With their new album, “Take Me Home”, One Direction is sure to leave behind their reputation as a One Hit Wonder with their new mix of affable, sing-along songs that will keep them riding high on their wave of success.
While One Direction doesn’t break any new ground with “Take Me Home,” it sure knows how to keep the party going. With catchy songs like “I Would,” “Heart Attack” and “Live While We’re Young,” it’s near impossible to not sing along. While all of their songs are formulaic, there’s a certain likeableness to them that will make you forget other boy bands have put out the same 13 songs before.
The only time they really falter is with the acoustic-driven ballad “Little Things.” While it will make younger girls swoon as each boy is featured in his own solo, older listeners will notice the lyrics come off as insincere, emotionless and just plain gross. The song follows in the steps of their first mega single “What Makes You Beautiful,” by continuing the message that a girl’s insecurities make her special. While their first single was sweet power pop song, “Little Things” fails with lyrics as cheesy as “you still have to squeeze into your jeans, but you’re perfect to me.” One Direction should just stick with its basic upbeat pop songs instead of trying to something they’re not.
Even though One Direction is a typical boy band, there is no denying that these boys know how to sing. One Direction was formed after the five boys tried out as solo artists on the U.K. version of The X Factor. After being put into a group, they were mentored throughout the competition by Simon Cowell, and with his guidance the group went on to a third place finish and never looked back as they slowly began to take over the world.
“Take Me Home” is available on iTunes for $11.99 and $14.99 for the Yearbook Edition, which includes four bonus songs and three live versions of older songs. Target is selling an exclusive version of “Take Me Home” that includes five bonus songs not seen on the iTunes version.
